Low Thyroid Function And Healing After Implant Surgery

Posted on: 4 October 2019

The dental implant procedure takes multiple appointments. It is important that your mouth is healthy before undergoing a dental procedure, and because of this, your dentist will make sure that you don't have severe gingivitis or any dental abscesses before proceeding with your surgery. Tell your dentist if you have low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, because this autoimmune disorder can raise your risk for complications after your procedure. Here are some ways hypothyroidism can complicate your recovery after getting dental implants

Slow Metabolic Rate

Hypothyroidism causes a slower metabolic rate. When your metabolism is sluggish, systemic circulation and blood flow slow down, including the blood flow to your extraction sites inside your mouth. It is essential to have optimal circulation after implant surgery so that healing and grafting can take place.

The titanium rods of your implants need to fuse to your jawbone, and if you have poor circulation as a result of hypothyroidism or otherwise, the fusing process may fail. Make sure you take all your prescribed thyroid medications, including your thyroid replacement hormone medication. Doing so will help ensure that your metabolic rate normalizes so that your implant sites heal properly. 

Infection Risk

Low thyroid function sometimes causes a decline in salivary gland function, causing dry mouth. If you don't produce enough saliva to wash away the bacteria inside your mouth, you may be at risk for infection after your dental procedure.

Your dentist can recommend a therapeutic mouthwash to replace moisture inside your oral cavity so that microorganisms are washed away. If your dry mouth persists, make an appointment with your physician to rule out the autoimmune disorder known as Sjogren's syndrome.

This disorder not only causes dry eyes but also attacks your salivary glands, rendering them ineffective at producing healthy levels of saliva. If you have one autoimmune disorder such as hypothyroidism, you may be more likely to develop a second autoimmune disorder.

Both hypothyroidism and Sjogren's syndrome are more common in women, but they can also occur in men. If you have an autoimmune disorder, monitor your implant sites for increased inflammation, bleeding, or severe pain. At the first sign of an infection, your dentist will prescribe antibiotics. 

If you have hypothyroidism or other autoimmune disorder, work with both your physician and dentist. When both of these healthcare professionals are involved in your care, you are more likely to enjoy an event-free recovery period after your implant procedure.

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About Marcel and the Dentist

Hi, my name is Marcel. Welcome to my site! I started it to help others learn about children's dentistry. Most of us don't remember dentist trips from our early childhood. Maybe we didn't even really care about our teeth until we started losing baby teeth. In my case, I became interested in children's dentistry as a young father. When my kids were young, I was a student, and our insurance did not cover visits to the dentist. Although my wife and I tried to teach our kids good hygiene on our own, it was difficult. When we we finally able to take them to the dentist, my little girls were scared and didn't know what was going on. Luckily, they appreciate the dentist now that they are older, but their first experiences helped teach me more about the importance of children's dentistry. Hopefully you can learn from my experiences!